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India Moves Toward Aerial Independence with New Localized H125 Helicopter Production
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European giant Airbus Helicopters and India’s Tata Group have officially launched a localized assembly line for helicopters at a new facility near Bengaluru. The inauguration took place during a multi-day visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who was joined by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the start of the project, according to Defense Express on February 18.
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Under this agreement, India will independently assemble the H125 light helicopter, covering both civilian and military H125M versions. Production is expected to begin in 2027.
The deal, which was first established in early 2024, grants India the rights to manufacture these aircraft for its domestic needs and to export them across South Asian markets. While the engines will come from France, the main fuselage sections from Germany, and the tail booms from Spain, all final assembly—including avionics and onboard systems—will happen in India, according to Defense Express.
The H125, formerly known as the Eurocopter AS350, is a widely used single-engine helicopter with a 2.3-ton payload and a 630 km range. More than 7,000 units have been produced since 1975.
The model is particularly valuable for India due to its performance in high-altitude environments. It famously holds records for landing on Mount Everest and for the highest successful rescue at 7,800 meters.
The military H125M variant is designed for reconnaissance and light attack, utilizing the HForce weapon system to deploy precision munitions.
This development signals a significant loss for Russia in the Indian helicopter market. Although Moscow has been a primary supplier since the Soviet era, the localized production of European aircraft suggests a long-term strategic shift toward Airbus.
The Kremlin currently lacks a direct competitor in the light helicopter class. This move also positions Airbus as a top candidate to replace India's aging fleet of Mi-17s.
After New Delhi declined to purchase additional Mi-17s in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the localized infrastructure now gives Airbus the ability to scale up production to heavier aircraft classes in the future.
Russia’s influence in India’s attack helicopter sector had already begun to fade a decade ago. In 2015, New Delhi chose to order 22 AH-64 Apache helicopters, with fuselages produced by Tata.
More recently, India has moved toward its own domestic solutions, launching the serial production of the Prachand attack helicopter with orders now totaling $7.3 billion, according to Defense Express.
Earlier, India’s imports of Russian crude oil reached their lowest levels since 2022 as New Delhi scaled back purchases due to Western sanctions and a trade agreement with the United States.
According to industry data from January, the world’s third-largest oil importer received approximately 1.1 million barrels per day, marking a significant 23.5% drop from the previous month.
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